frequently asked questions

[groundrules]

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A selection of questions likely to pop up on first read. You can add yours below — but please do your best to keep it to broader-interest questions, rather than granular ones that are very specific to your character/canon.


What kind of game is this, really?

Bottom line, you are looking at a primarily horror mystery against a fantasy backdrop. Sprinkle political elements in, now and then. Think Diablo II on dwrp steroids. Each Arc location will have a different vibe and level of technological access. Events themselves won't have write-ups past PG-15, but you're welcome to explore whatever kind of content you want, provided you don't break the playground and you remember to label & warn appropriately.

But, more detail?

Your character's summoned in by undead lords looking to weaponise them in a conflict to seize a long-suffering, increasingly conquered word. An elusive allied (?) Merchant whisks your character east, where decayed beacons could return them home. Prepare to earn your access, coin and right to breathe in various beacon Arcs, while unearthing the larger mystery of how Akhuras' undead population came to thrive. Continue our heart-warming habit of leaving (nearly) every Arc site worse than you found it. Alternatively, the SETTING!

How demanding will participation be?

Genuinely up to you. Ideally, you would try to engage with the plot some of the time in some capacity, but you aren't expected to interact with every single plot aspect out there.

And the game duration?

Is not set in stone, but currently has two Arcs left to go through, with an estimated finish around January-February 2024. This depends a fair deal on the progress of plot developments!

ADMIN | ACTIVITY & POSTING

What are the main game hubs?
• eastbound: for all your network posting needs
• westwhere: individual & event logs
• lostcompass: out-of-character (OOC) communication and plotting

What’s the monthly activity check (AC) like?

The mod will try to use tags to follow player activity over the month and only request activity proof submissions of players between the 1st and 5th of the ensuing month, when that evidence isn't easily found on game communities. Activity requirements can be met with one of the following options:

• 10 text comments over at most two threads (defined as tag rounds; a 15-part response is enviable, but that still only counts as one)
• OR 5 log comments over at most two threads
• OR 1 open-to-all network post
• OR 1 open log top level

Ideally, this activity should be started in the activity month, though exceptions can apply.

Three notes:
i. Staying in the game is not the same as staying involved; higher AC is generally advisable for players who want to take lead on plots.
ii. Game mates can flag chronic absentees to mod attention, if patterns develop. Mod action can also be taken if a pattern of consistently only making minimum activity for several months is observed.
iii. At this time, threads done in individual character inboxes are accepted for activity checks, but you shouldn't repeatedly meet AC with just inbox threads, or with threads done exclusively with canonmates.

You are not expected to produce AC samples for a month when you were HIATUSED for at least two weeks. Characters are waived from AC requirements during the month when they were accepted in the game.

What happens if you fail your activity check?

You can claim a 'strike' and make another attempt the following month. Alternatively, the character is removed from gameplay.

You can only take one hiatus or activity strike within a three-month period. That said, you can always get in touch if there are extenuating circumstances that impacted your activity — we've all been there!

When are application cycles?

Controversially, there’s no strict pattern. We want to add new characters when they can fit into the plot narrative. Currently, apps are permanently open, and individual plot entrances are figured out with the mod.

What kind of characters can be applied?

All that and more, on our applications page!

Are there any caps in place?

Right now, we're working with a cap of 55 players in game. This does not apply to returning players. You can find out how many players we currently have in game at the start of a cycle on our applications page.

What's the deal with post / community tags?

Please use warning tags to top off your own cuts and warnings and help label sensitive content. Character tags are also available for posts you’ve made or responded to, and using them helps with your activity check.


GAMEPLAY MECHANICS

So there’s a network, texting-style system?

Sort of. Yes. While making the game log-exclusive would be more realistic to the fantasy vibe, a lot of players enjoy the option of fast, casual tagging, so each Arc will feature some kind of mechanism to allow it. Once they have their own money (ha!), characters can also purchase translation-thralled devices, seals, inks and paper to send expedited letters.

What happens if characters hit the bucket?

Shame on you for wasting a perfectly decent pail. Characters can be revived at the first plot-given opportunity, meaning you should be prepared to off your precioussss without an immediate resurrection date. Factor the possibility of a two-week time-out in your plans. Revivals will take place if and when necromancers, scientists or magical artifacts can be procured — and paid for. Characters are encouraged to stock up for their resurrection fund.

Can characters get canon updates?

In theory, yes. In practice, there will be infrequent opportunities to undertake canon updates: for one to take place, characters will have to effectively arrive in their worlds through one of the many ancient beacons, then return from a different timepoint.

When and how can characters engage with NPCs?

You're always welcome to hit up the NPC inbox for text-style thread or quick action ones. Just remember that NPC interactions will reflect into the broader plot.


WORLD, PLOT & INVOLVEMENT

What are 'Arcs'?

Honest answer: jargon. An Arc encompasses all the mission assignments and plot points that can be covered at a given location, before characters ollie on to the next. Dubious maps will be supplied for each new destination.

Do we have a say in the next kind of playground our noble (???) heroes visit?

Sure, players can give their feedback to choose the next Arc destination. The variety of these locations will typically result from plot movements in previous Arcs (ex: characters might have to head south to an island, if they've just set the north on fire and commandeered a boat.) It will also be possible to return to previously travelled Arc locations... unless they really were set on fire.

What's the general technology level of this world?

Variable. It will become gradually apparent to characters that Akhuras locations that have been suppressed by undead overlords for extended periods of time have regressed technologically, or had their technology partially or completely eroded. Local tech levels will fall anywhere between the 1200s and 1900s, depending on the region. Some tech might go slightly futuristic, in niche instances.

Soooooooo, I’ve got a plot in mind.

YES. Thank you! The only guidelines are to try to not break the world & In Character Actions = In Character Consequences. If you’re planning something that will affect the entire game, pitch your plot in one of the main plotting posts or on the PLAYER PLOT page, and we’ll figure out a way to make it happen. Otherwise, if you’re just plotting something small-scale, go for it without checking in.

And interacting with plot in the main events?

The point of Eastbound was to keep the game interactive, and give players the chance to toss around and organise ideas within the skeleton frame of the supplied world and events. Character votes and decisions are critical in figuring out the mystery of the day and shaping the course of the 'big-picture' plot. Likewise, players can volunteer ideas during (and outside of) events.

I really don't like the current plot.

Drop by the MOD CONTACT POST and leave your $0.02 whenever you think an event is lacklustre or dragging on. If enough people do so, we can axe it, switch it up or cut it short.

What are 'plot rolls' then?

An umbrella term for side quests and plot developments that arise from a character's previous participation. Sometimes they will be mod-issued because of a character's match to a quest that could further a plot, other times they'll be immediate plot-bearing consequences of what characters did previously. Plot rolls that players haven't signed up for are optional. You can also request a plot roll, but please try to carry these custom plot opportunities through!

Money seems to be a big deal in this game?

Life sucks that way, don’t it. It’s not just coin, but resources — since Eastbound relies on getting characters physically to another location, constantly procuring the supplies to ensure that will be an ongoing hustle.

There was talk of a caravan, where’s the caravan, what’s the seating like in the carava —

The mode of transportation differs depending on the Arc, the destination, the party's budget and whatever characters have blown up recently!


→ NAVIGATION MENU

Comments

OTHER QUESTIONS

[groundrules]

T B C , but this comment will soon host links to other key questions asked during April OOC plot prep or event posts. Thank you for your patience!

Re: OTHER QUESTIONS

[royal_venant]

I have a quick question about how the stones.

How do they work as a network device?

I can understand the idea behind a voice function - characters speak to their stone, and then on the other end characters hear the message.

How does a text function work with the stones?

Thank you!

[pinkxeno]

Why hello

Weird question but I am trying to see my options for the future.

Can someone eat the undead? I'm asking because I might app a cannibal who instead of eating living people he would probably turn to the undead if possible.

[anthropophagite]

Quick question! Are canon updates possible?

Re: OTHER QUESTIONS

[manga_goddess_skuld]

What about items from home? What are the limits to what someone can bring with them/how can someone bring things with them? Only what is in their pockets? If they were holding something does it come with them?

And if they are bringing something they are holding if it is arguably alive, but not appable, can they bring it with them?

What about magical hammerspace?

[traaaaaash]

How would the locals in, say, Ke-Waihu react to a giant harpy woman just marching about?

[cholesterol]

Hi there, mods! Do you accept CRAU or just canon canon points?

[kahl_175]

I've got a question about the dragons in Eidris! How intelligent are they? With Kahl's coverstory as a dragon racer, could he get close enough to find out? Coming from a background of exploitation and slavery, Kahl is pretty leery about people talking about "transport breeds" versus "martial" ones. That sounds a lot like the early history of the Grineer to him, and everybody assumed they were too stupid to have opinions about their situation.

[blackscales]

What do you consider 'gameplay breaking' type powers that need to be capped/taken out? In essence, Wrathion has a bunch of showy magic but his biggest trick is that he's an actual dragon, and can shapeshift back and forth from that shape. He's not big enough to sit on a house and smash it, but he's big enough to carry people. 75% of the time that isn't Constructively Useful because dragons cannot sit inside small human houses and talk to people, but I know being able to straight up fly away from trouble is sometimes bordering the gamebreaking land for people.

[groundrules]

Heya! So, in a way that's situational — basically, dial down powers enough that you don't struggle to justify why your character isn't just breezing through every mission, or destroying the world (hey, some folks have that ability!) in response to being summoned here. Because that would get boring for your gameplay experience pretty quickly.

If you want my take: dragon shifting should be okay. Maybe now and then, if the party is in a smaller venue (think: a ship!), we might have to come up with a McGuffin that explains why Wrathion briefly can't revert to his dragon-y self. Otherwise, I don't really see his dragon skin as a problem, personally.

That said, if you feel Wrathion might become boring or unplayable for you, because he'd have too easy of a recourse in every situation, you could maybe make it so that it's harder for him to sustain his dragon form as extensively. Alternatively, you could assume it uses up more of his power than usual to shift and remain dragon-like. But ultimately, I'd say to go with whatever will give you less long-term trouble when you face a mission and think, 'Damn, I'd love to challenge my dude, but he'd just dragon his way out of (X) and I can't ICly make it work.'

Does that make sense?

[ravenna]

hello!

re: applicable characters, and real people. is this a totally hard guideline, or is there wiggle room for fictionalized versions, or reincarnations of fictionalized versions? ie, rasputin was reborn and is now a teenager named steve in 2020 and was actually for real a wizard with magic powers and all the conspiracy theories were real. stevesputin has all of his previous life's memories, and also those magic powers.

ty for your time!

[groundrules]

Hello — clearly fictionalised versions of real-life historical figures should be fine ( ex: Anne Boleyn from The Tudors ), but I think we will always have to consider a case-by-case rejection of certain figures that risk upsetting the playerbase because of their cultural significance. For instance, I don't think we'd be able to accommodate a young Adolf Hitler, even if it's from a novel that purely explores his relationship to painting.

[likeyouknow]

Hello! What are your rules on Malleable Protagonists/Player Characters from RPGS? Thinking about the Warrior of Light from FF14 in particular, if you needed an example!

[groundrules]

Heya! I think to be apped in, they'd have to meet two criteria. They'd have to have:

— a concrete role in canon
— a distinct and coalesced canon personality

Point two might be the trouble for some games, if they feature malleable protagonists that are very passive/reactive or that are pure, undeveloped blank slates. I'm afraid I don't know enough about FF14 to give you an idea of whether they successfully give their Warrior of Light character enough personality to work with. But, generally, if you have to step in and create the majority of the character's personality, rather than it being immediately and easily deducible from canon events, then they probably don't qualify to be apped in.

If you're familiar with Star Wars: The Old Republic — we had an Inquisitor malleable character from it. That's kind of the level of defined personality I'd say is requisite, if that helps give you an idea.

TDM Question!

[somebadnews]

This came up and my brain could not recall the answer: if someone participated in the TDM but didn't app, can characters remember they were briefly there?

I'm sure you have said this somewhere, because I vaguely remembered, but I thought I'd just go the easy route and check!

[groundrules]

Heya — typically TDM threads can stay canon, but I wouldn't personally recommend burdening your character with recalling interaction with someone who didn't stay, as you'd then have to put them through the low of their realising that person's disappeared (and might be injured, dead, etc). But it's up to you if you want them to remember!

[traaaaaash]

Sooo I have a question concerning Eda's magic!

Eda does magic with so-called glyphs, which are symbols in a circle that produce certain effects, like light, fire, ice and so on. In canon, these work through the ambient magic of the Boiling Isles, where Eda live, and can be done even by people who don't have innate magic capabilities, like humans. Glyps do not canonically work in the human realm.

Since magic is present in Eastbound, I kind of assumed they would work, so my questions are 1) DO they work and 2) if yes, could they also be used be others, or would they be confined to Eda?

[groundrules]

Heya &mdadh; just for my understanding: you say glyphs do not work in the human realm. What is the canon reason for that? Is it because the human world has no magic, period, or because it does not have the specific magic of the Boiling Isles?

Based on your explanation, it sounds like the latter case, if I am reading you right, but just to confirm.

[traaaaaash]

Heyyyy, I have a friend who is interested in the game and was wondering how much runtime the game still has, approximately? Are we still on schedule for the ~2 years?

[groundrules]

Heyhey — at the current pace, I'd say at least a year. It's down to you guys, and how you progress the plot, but that pace has trended slower than the original estimate.

[hatejakku]

Howdy, mod! Prospective player doing a little sight-seeing tour of your game here. c:

Understandably, powers (like the Force) should be capped as to not be game breaking, but I'm wondering how you feel about telepathy specifically? Mind reading, mind control-lite, empath abilities, etc. towards both player characters and NPCs?

Specifically about my guy, he's on the novice level for these sorts of things and hasn't even figured out the whole "lifting rocks"/telekinesis stuff yet, but his powers are likely to grow in time (remaining capped, of course). Regardless, I wanted to pop in and get some clarification for future reference.

[groundrules]

Heya —

Well, to begin with



But more seriously: I'd say, think of capping as something for your benefit — effectively, it's what gives you cover so your character doesn't end up coasting through every obstacle and event without a scratch or difficulty. Which would be immensely boring for you. So, cap enough to give yourself plausible deniability to keep things fun.

With respect to telepathy, mind control, empathy: you can't do that on player characters without getting permission from players. Anything they consent to, y'all are adults. As for highly plot-relevant NPCs — telepathy/mind-control would have to be tuned down, just so we can justify why he doesn't get every single clue in a blink. Our resident Allison Hargreeves has a similar mind control ability, and the player just uses (excellent!) discretion as to if and when she has Allison exercise her skill.

Personally, and this is entirely down to your own comfort, I would say do not completely and permanently nerf these skills in this case. The Force is very intrinsic to Finn, to his developing personality, to whom he's striving to become after nopeing out of the stormtrooper squad. If you fully block him away from his power, I think you might impair his personality in a way that you wouldn't to a character who's just using the magical equivalent of a gun. So I wouldn't personally recommend fully killing off his telepathy/empathy/so on, I'd say maybe take the 'circumstantially toning down' route.

But this is 100% your decision, because you know your character and how you'd feel about handling the gameplay.

[littlemimic]

Hi, interested player here with a question about pregnancy in the game.

The character I want to play is currently pregnant at her canon point and all through the latest season. How are you handling such things in the gameplay? Are there options I can discuss with the player who'd be the father (who is in the game) of said kid?

As a note, she's very early along and there doesn't seem to be a hint of what gender their kid would be and that information may be a long time off so if proceeding is allowed in the game, it would all be up to us players.

[groundrules]

Heya — straight off the bat, haven't had to deal with this in game so far, so open to talking it out.

But I personally really wouldn't encourage apping a pregnant character. The gameplay involves a survival aspect, and so far characters have dealt with heavy deprivations of food, energy and agency, along with frequent injuries and magical or stamina depletion. To make a long story short: there is a very high risk an unborn child would not survive the voyage.

[matermali]

Greetings, Boss! I know you are busy getting those plot rolls out, so no rush on this. I would have asked sooner but RL interrupted my game progress.

Given that Artemius Bale doesn't seem to be a prominently recurring NPC and isn't even listed on the NPC page, am I meant to handwave the letters that Vanessa sends him and leave it in the background, or should I be tagging the NPC post with them?

Wei Wuxian suggested that Vanessa use the connection to see if Bale knows anything about the weird (lack of) spiritual shenanigans in the city proper, so I thought it best to ask if that's an avenue I should explore or not, or if this is also something to handwave?

[groundrules]

Heya — handwaving is fine, and if he's needed plot-wise, he'll pop up more. Admittedly hadn't foreseen much of a need for him past the Mouse House, but I guess you could hit up the npc inbox and ask for him? The only trouble I see here is, there isn't much Vanessa could give him right now for further information, since she's technically indebted, if anything...

[eyeofthavnair]

Hello mods! This character is in a very weird position of essentially having two (or technically three, but he can only 'use' two at a time, so let's just say two) bodies. One is his real body, which is that of a giant dragon, and one is a magical/alchemical simulacrum or "vessel" that he pilots remotely by putting his eye (like his actual eyeball) inside of it. Preferably I'd mainly play the vessel as it's more regular-sized and I assume that many places in-game don't have room for a 40-foot long lizard to hang out.

So, would it be possible for only the vessel to be pulled into the Akhuras? This would sort of mean that only one "piece" of him would be in the game, physically, but his consciousness would be here. (Canonically he can control both bodies at once, but for the sake of DWRP I'd assume his mind would be "stuck" in the vessel.) I'd be open to other options too if there are any MacGuffins that would help out!

Semi-related: do characters who don't need food, sleep, etc. now need it while in Akhuras?

[groundrules]

Heya!

1. So, just to confirm — when the dragon puts the eye in the humanoid vessel, what happens to the dragon body? Does it go comatose?

Trying to think if there is somehow an option to have both in game — your character would need to be fully in, I think, a partial entry sounds a bit like it might backfire later, because we have a lot of events and plotlines that deal with souls, death, physicality and mortality. And if we do a part entrance, where only half of Varshahn is in game, we run the risk of needing to do custom scenarios for him every time.

2. Nope, if you don't need to eat/drink/sleep/etc beforehand, it's not a new requirement here.

[vdovy]

Hello! Going off of The Merchant's post, were someone to take it upon themselves to scope out the tower, what kind of security would they be up against? Would it be reasonable for Yelena to gain access and map the place out in advance of their mission?

[pulvisetumbra]

Heyhey — PLEASE EXCUSE the account — you're gonna get more OOC detail on the tower onnnnn Wed-Thu — the thinking was to take any queries there, including for recon, before the log drop on Saturday. Definitely happy for her to scope, just haven't finalised the space details just yet, so there aren't any findings for her to unearth. The group hasn't gained access overground so far because of customs issues, if you need an excuse for why she can't recon until Wed-Thu.

But please ask on that post then (assuming questions haven't been answered in the write-up ofc!), happy for her to map the place out!

[matermali]

I should have mentioned this with Vanessa's update, sorry! It's nothing major just a little upgrade. Before it was 'theoretical' for her but now she can consciously use her magic to summon predatory animals; probably keeping it to creepy crawlies (scorpions, spiders, etc.) and small beasties like snakes and such (always with content warnings). Is that something that will need to be powered down for the game?

[groundrules]

Not fully, but let's maybe keep it to intermittent functionality, so it's not too huge of an advantage!

[havisham]

hi hello, prospective player with a quick question

does the universal translate apply to only spoken languages or would a signed language (like asl, bsl) be translated too?

thanks xoxo

[groundrules]

You know what - never had to deal with that before. What's your preference?

We could have it speak out words for your character annnnnnd... are they also deaf? If so, perhaps show a transcript of what is being said to them. If not, they can hear on their own.

Alternatively, if you want to go the very difficult route and not have that aspect of communication available, we could do that.

[perceptive]

If I plan to app in a character (Charles) who was previously in the game before (he missed the desert of awesome arc!) can he retain memories of his previous time here in EB or do I have to start from scratch with him? I don't mind starting from scratch with this fella, but I'd love to know my options anyhow. Thank you so much!

[groundrules]

Hello! Yep, Charles can come back with his memories, either recalled in bulk or gradually returning to him, whatever you prefer! You can also completely wipe out his game memories, if that's easier.

If you're reapping, unless you're picking him up from a different timeline point that he was originally brought in with, you're fine to comment to the applications page with a link to your former app, and just signal you're repicking — no need for further fuss!

[hexgem]

Can dropped characters disappear between beacons or are they presumed to be around until the next beacon is reached/activated?

[groundrules]

Hello! They can disappear along the way - the beacon option is usually just for drops within a few weeks ahead of the beacon activation.

Invite / App related

[starlingroad]

Just making sure to ask this officially, if I want to invite someone into the game, is there an official invite I need to acquire, or just have them mention me on their application?

[groundrules]

Hello! Nothing to acquire, but if they can mention you (either your name or your plurk or discord name) on their application in the section asking how they heard about the place/who supplied their invite, that would be fantastic!

[matermali]

I was thinking of bumping Vanessa to the end of her canon, but because it's such a drastic jump I want to play it safe and run it by you here. If canonbumped to the series end, Vanessa will have awakened as the Mother of Evil and fully realized her powers that had just been hinted at before. She's summoned the apocalypse and the undead out to play, etc. (She will also register as Super undead now).

1. One aspect of this is that she'll canonically be realized as the key to Hell/the Underworld/Hey-Dear-the-Apocalypse-is-Outside. Even if nerfed, it could be fun to play with if they ever get near a hellgate again, but I understand if this is preferable to nix completely.

2. In canon she’ll be empowered as the mother, or queen of the undead and 'night beings' from hell, and while she's shown having control over those in her vicinity, she is also a huge lure for them en masse. This could create some interesting future problems for the group that could be fun to play with, but again I understand if this Big Undead Lure should be nerfed somehow.

[groundrules]

Heya — you're 50-50% on permissions!

Hell hasn't historically really come to play in Eastbound, barring one instance (Arc V: Alem), and there characters with a connection to it had certain, very specific exposures and abilities (to avoid them overtaking the plot). The basic reasoning was, that wasn't their hell, so limited purview made sense. I don't envision hell really coming back into play, since it's already been explored — but if it does, I think hell-linked characters would be under the same kinds of guidelines. So, it's fine for her to be key in her world, as she'd still be subject to situational limitations here.

Her being a big undead lure might be a bit much, unfortunately.